Radioactive pollution is now detected in snow and freshwater fish.
And Japan's Kan administration still pushes for nuclear power, not just for the Japanese but for the up-and-coming countries in Asia and the rest of the world.
From Mainichi Shinbun Japanese (5/30/2011; link, emphasis added):
山岳愛好家らで作る「高山（たかやま）の原生林を守る会」は２９日、福島市周辺の山岳地帯から採取した雪の放射線量分析結果を公表した。標高１５００メー トル以下を中心に高濃度の放射性セシウムが検出され、最高は箕輪山東斜面の１３３８メートル地点で１キロ当たり２９６８ベクレルだった。市内の阿武隈川の ヤマメなど川魚からは国の暫定規制値（１キロ当たり５００ベクレル）を上回るセシウムが検出され、雪解け水の流入が原因とみられるという。
On May 29, a private association of mountain lovers [in Fukushima], "Association for preserving the primal forests in Takayama Mountain", announced the result of radiation analysis of snow samples taken from the mountains around Fukushima City in Fukushima Prefecture. High concentration of radioactive cesium was detected from snow samples taken below the altitude of 1,500 meters (4,921 feet), with the highest being 2,968 becquerels per kilogram from the sample taken on the east slope of Mount Minowa at 1,338 meters high. Radioactive cesium that exceeds the provisional national limit (500 becquerels per kilogram) has been detected from freshwater fish in the Abukuma river that runs through Fukushima City, and it is considered that radioactive cesium in fish comes from the water from melted snow.
30-Day free trial by following the link.
Tokyo Time
![[Most Recent Quotes from www.kitco.com]](http://www.kitconet.com/charts/metals/gold/t24_au_en_usoz_2.gif)
5 comments:
The rainy season will see the Fukushima emissions deposited very widely inland. Fortunately, the accident was sufficiently long ago that the ongoing contamination is minute compared to what it was, but there will still be a large increase in background radiation in central Japan.
The health consequences are uncertain and may be nil, but the Japanese authorities will have to come to grips with the reality that the agricultural products produced are too contaminated to meet current standards. Expect these standards to be adjusted.
There is no such thing as no health consequences when it comes to radiation spewing out of four reactors, three of which are in meltdown.
Additionally, radiation accumulation is cumulative. The levels are only going to increase and substantially over time.
There are some very blatant troll's roaming all around this whole thing, as seen in the first comment. Troll till the cows start to glow dude we all have your number and can see right through your stupid lies and distortions.
And By There Deeds YOU Shall Know Them!
Qn for Robbie or anyone:
Tepco has been discharging highly radioactive water into the sea for weeks now.
What nuclear safety treaties does this violate (if any - the IAEA seems to operate a voluntary compliance regime)?
Does the Law of the Sea 1973 provide opportunities to sanction such discharges?
In which court would these be applied, say, if I were Chinese, and wanted Japan/Tepco pay reparations for destructing of fishing grounds in Chinese territorial waters?
Is this a criminal matter (eg neglect of safety) that could go before International Criminal Court at some point (once the cancers start to show up)?
Robbie001 sez
@ 5:01
Unfortunately I don't think so since this is an "unintentional" spill. I doubt any nuclear nations would be interested in drawing attention to the issue in the International Court Of Justice. If the Chinese or anyone for that matter wanted international reparations outside of Japan's generosity they would have a long slow road ahead. They would need to gather credible evidence and make it a matter of public record at the ICJ. That would that take years and the ICJ can be pretty toothless.
I doubt any nation is going to want to publicly admit if they detect excess contamination because it could crash their economy. The Japanese are trying as hard as they can to ignore the ocean contamination for just this reason.
You are right about the IAEA they aren't the snarling safety watchdog they make themselves out to be. They operate at the pleasure of the member nations they observe. The IAEA has been around since 1957 and the world has had three big nuclear accidents and the nuclear weapons club tripled.
Mordechai Vanunu proved just how ineffective the IAEA is at "regulating" atoms for peace and he was punished for it. The IAEA didn't even whimper when Israel kidnapped Vanunu for blowing the whistle nor did they demand international sanctions for Israel's "nuclear transgression".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mordechai_Vanunu
(2009)
"International Atomic Energy Agency says Jerusalem must join Non-Proliferation Treaty, allow it to monitor its facilities. Iranian ambassador hails decision as 'triumph'; 'Israel will not cooperate with this resolution,' says Atomic Energy Commission official"
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3778884,00.html
(2010)
"IAEA rejects Arab nuclear resolution on Israel
The resolution expressed "concern about the Israeli nuclear capabilities" and called on Israel to join the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). This would require Israel to open any of its nuclear activity to IAEA inspectors."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-11407589
Oh, and let's not forget South Africa was briefly in the clandestine nuclear weapons club and the IAEA didn't know a thing until after the fact when S/A told them. The main reason S/A dropped their program was because the whites didn't want a bomb in black hands after the end of apartheid.
Post a Comment